Our local wildlife is a precious resource and it's always a wondrous thing to see them thriving in their native habitat.
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It can also be distressing to find them injured or orphaned, and knowing what to do to help them in those situations can be difficult.
If you find injured wildlife, make sure that your own safety will not be at risk to approach the animal.
Any injured animal may be scared and they may lash out and cause injury to you as they attempt to protect themselves from perceived danger.
If there is risk to your safety, do not approach - instead, call a local ranger, wildlife organisation or WIRES on 1300 094 737.
Where possible, being able to wrap the animal in a towel, blanket or item of clothing will help you to pick it up and will also aid keep them warm.
Covering their head or placing them into a box or dark environment is best, as this will help keep them calm.
Once you have the animal in your care, take it straight to the nearest veterinary practice.
Try to keep them warm and quiet to lessen stress and anxiety.
At this time of year, we often receive calls from people who have found young birds that seem to have fallen from their nests.
In these situations, it may often be best to leave the fledgling chick where it is, as long as it is not in any immediate danger from predators like your own pet.
When an animal is brought into Leeton Veterinary Hospital, our team assesses its health and any injuries it may have sustained.
Once the animal has been treated, local wildlife carers are contacted.
They take the animal to be rehabilitated and eventually released.
As all native fauna is protected under Australian law, it is illegal for them to be looked after by people without proper training and a licence to care for wildlife.